Happy birthday Mummy Mariam! May all the blessings be with you. :)

Went to the El-Demerdash Hospital's Poison Control Center today as part of our Forensic Medicine & Toxicology course requirement. I don't really know what to expect because it was my first time at a poison control center you know.

When I arrived, there was a kid on the bed, she was just lying there. The HOs told us that the kid had swallowed some KOH. Poor child. Had a patient with BB toxicity. She cried when the assistant prepared the AC for her. The HO said she cried because she was afraid. I'd cry too if I was asked to drink some black gooey water. Reminds me of the Leviathans. LOL.

Then we had double attempted suicide. Attempted because they didn't die. One girl, judging by her appearance I'd say she's not more than 15 years of age, tried to OD herself on SR Theophylline. Another woman, older, probably in 21-25 years of age drank rat poison, Carbamate. The doctors decided to induce emesis for decontamination. The young girl was then admitted for further investigation, while the older woman was given antidote.

They had notes on the table. Short simple notes on what to do in toxicity cases. Now I know why Dr Shereen insisted that we make our own toxicity management guidelines. Makes it easy for us to plan our approach in emergency situations. Without missing any important steps. Ha! I should've paid more attention to her.

Among the things I learned from this visit were :

1. Be mentally prepared.
2. Don't panic! (If you panic, the patient will panic, and it will be hell.)
3. Plan my management wisely.
4. Brush up on my Pharmacology. (Had to Google the names of the drugs because I wasn't familiar with their commercial names. HAHA)
5. Develop a good skill on handling children and elderly.
6. Don't study merely for the exam Nini! Study because you need to treat people.

Labels: The Show Must Go On.

Happy birthday Mummy Mariam! May all the blessings be with you. :)

Went to the El-Demerdash Hospital's Poison Control Center today as part of our Forensic Medicine & Toxicology course requirement. I don't really know what to expect because it was my first time at a poison control center you know.

When I arrived, there was a kid on the bed, she was just lying there. The HOs told us that the kid had swallowed some KOH. Poor child. Had a patient with BB toxicity. She cried when the assistant prepared the AC for her. The HO said she cried because she was afraid. I'd cry too if I was asked to drink some black gooey water. Reminds me of the Leviathans. LOL.

Then we had double attempted suicide. Attempted because they didn't die. One girl, judging by her appearance I'd say she's not more than 15 years of age, tried to OD herself on SR Theophylline. Another woman, older, probably in 21-25 years of age drank rat poison, Carbamate. The doctors decided to induce emesis for decontamination. The young girl was then admitted for further investigation, while the older woman was given antidote.

They had notes on the table. Short simple notes on what to do in toxicity cases. Now I know why Dr Shereen insisted that we make our own toxicity management guidelines. Makes it easy for us to plan our approach in emergency situations. Without missing any important steps. Ha! I should've paid more attention to her.

Among the things I learned from this visit were :

1. Be mentally prepared.
2. Don't panic! (If you panic, the patient will panic, and it will be hell.)
3. Plan my management wisely.
4. Brush up on my Pharmacology. (Had to Google the names of the drugs because I wasn't familiar with their commercial names. HAHA)
5. Develop a good skill on handling children and elderly.
6. Don't study merely for the exam Nini! Study because you need to treat people.

Labels: The Show Must Go On.